Masks are compulsory on buses and trains in autumn and winter. And it’s likely to get even worse. This emerges from the federal and state scenario for the period from October 1st. Because FFP2 masks should then be mandatory for most passengers.
Düsseldorf (dpa / lnw) – FFP2 masks are expected to be largely mandatory for driving public buses and trains in North Rhine-Westphalia from October 1st. According to the latest scenario from the federal and state governments of North Rhine-Westphalia, the surgical masks that have also been accepted up to now will no longer be sufficient for young people and adults.
This tightening of the mask requirement in autumn and winter is met with criticism from the Pro Bahn passenger association in North Rhine-Westphalia, because it sees unequal treatment with other facilities such as retail and even a short bus ride cannot simply be compared with a long-haul flight. The necessary controls and the question of additional funds from the state budget are pointed out from the ranks of the transport associations.
According to the State Ministry of Health, the state of North Rhine-Westphalia is aiming for a regulation in autumn for local public transport that is analogous to the federal long-distance traffic regulation. A ministry spokesman made this clear on Thursday at the request of the dpa in Düsseldorf.
According to the federal government, FFP2 masks should be compulsory on airplanes and long-distance trains from October 1st. So far, a simpler surgical mask has been sufficient. According to the federal government’s legislative plans presented in Berlin on Wednesday, this should only be possible for children aged 6 to 14 and for staff from autumn. Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) justified the planned tightening by saying that FFP2 masks offer better protection against the more contagious BA.5 virus variant.
North Rhine-Westphalia has already been guided by the respective federal regulations when it comes to the question of the obligation to wear a mask in local transport. The NRW Ministry of Health had only last Thursday extended the Corona Protection Ordinance and other regulations for NRW until the deadline of September 23 without changes. It went into effect this Thursday. It states that the mask requirement in certain areas states that “at least one medical mask (so-called surgical mask)” must be worn. The Ministry of Health assumes that the previous regulation on the obligation to wear masks in local transport will be extended until September 30th.
The spokesman for Pro Bahn NRW, Lothar Ebbers, pointed out different transport times for the means of transport. Breaking down – equating the long-haul aircraft with the long-distance train and with the bus, which only takes three stops – that seems a bit strange, he told the dpa on Thursday. There is also unequal treatment with other areas such as shopping in the supermarket. In S-Bahn and regional trains, according to his observation, the acceptance of the obligation to wear a mask is still relatively high. This could also be different in inner-city traffic with buses and trains.
The transport associations see no decision-making option for themselves: “We are implementing what is given to us by the Ministry of Health,” said a spokesman for the Rhein-Sieg transport association on Thursday of the dpa. The state of North Rhine-Westphalia has provided additional funds for the control of the mask requirement. The question is whether further funds can now be made available beyond August.
